ECARX is taking full control of Flyme, the software name that may already sound familiar to Proton e.MAS 7 owners in Malaysia.
The Nasdaq-listed automotive technology company has signed a definitive agreement to buy the full Flyme software business for US$266 million (RM1.1 billion).
The deal covers Flyme Auto, the in-car cockpit operating system, and the wider Flyme OS used across connected devices.
For Malaysian readers, Flyme Auto is not some distant tech label. The Proton e.MAS 7 is using the Flyme Auto operating system.
Globally, ECARX said Flyme Auto is already used in more than two million production vehicles across several car makers. The broader Flyme OS has more than 15 years of development behind it, with use across vehicles, smartphones and wearables.
The acquisition will be done through Hubei Qiguang Technology, a new entity carved out from DreamSmart Group. Within six months after closing, that entity is expected to hold the key Flyme intellectual property, R&D teams, engineering resources, customer contracts and operating infrastructure.
ECARX plans to fund about 70% of the deal through syndicated bank loans, with the rest coming from internal sources. After completion, Flyme will operate as an independent software division.
